With the death of our friend (PD complications), I thought of his wife and the season she has just weathered and what changes are to come. Will life come out of the deep freeze of winter and transition to new growth, the fresh air and hope of spring? Life with PD is transformational, ever changing. It is a constant transcending to the next platform, the next season. We want the all-glorious and rosy, but we all know life is riddled with moments of tears, frustration and occasional chaos. Winter can be dark and lonely, but we know that as the earth experiences winter, spring, summer and fall, our own life cycle will also move through the seasons. That's a blessing and our job is to learn to value life and value all the precious moments.
I came across a quote buy Steve Sutherland which said "I believe in process. I believe in four seasons. I believe that winter's tough, but spring's coming. I believe that there's a growing season. And I think you realize that in life, you grow. You get better." This says to me that by understanding the seasons of life, you have crucial information to know how to respond when you are there. No season lasts forever.
I love the idea that fall is the season of harvest, but we don't get to harvest unless we took the time to plant. I cannot merely hope and wish for harvest, I need to take an occasional risk and get out there in the world to serve and share. Even in this time of Parkinson's I need to 'plant', to sow my soul, to invest in others.
I'm not certain what season I am experiencing now, sometimes I feel as though it a bit of all of them. If I had to pick one it would be fall. Fall is humble boldness and strength, but also it calls me to remember... remember our life together, remember the kids growing and maturing, remember the trips we have taken together, remember our professions, remember the homes we have created and friends we have made, remember past joys and in this moment, remember our success at adjusting our lives to Parkinson's.
At its longest, life is brief. In these fall months, I must remember that.